Gateway Baptist Church recently held a Respite Night for families of children with special needs.  

Gateway’s Hope Ministry walks alongside families to appropriately provide support and care for each individual’s unique needs. Led by Hope Ministry Coordinator Morgan Muir, the event provided a much-needed break for parents and a night of fun and care for their children. Muir, mother to a teenage son with autism, understood firsthand the need for such an event. “It was important to extend this service beyond our church to the wider community, letting them know we’re here to walk alongside them,” she said. 

Planning and Execution

“The first Respite Night saw six families sign up, including 15 children–eight with special needs and seven neurotypical siblings,” Muir said. She emphasized the importance of preparation and personalization. “I gathered as much information as I could about each child—their interests, triggers, and any special requirements,” she explained. This information was shared with the volunteers, most of whom had little or no prior experience serving in the special needs ministry but were eager to help.

Volunteers were essential to the night’s success. Each child was paired with one or two volunteers, ensuring individualized attention and care. The event included movies, meals accommodating dietary restrictions, and various activities tailored to the children’s interests.

Impact and Future Plans

Feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the opportunity to relax and recharge. One mother shared a touching story of how the respite allowed her to spend quality time with her older daughter, who was preparing for her upcoming wedding—a moment that would not have been possible without the event.

Given the success of the first Respite Night, Gateway Baptist Church plans to continue and expand the program. “We walked away with things we thought were great and things we should tweak, but overall, it was a great success,” Muir said.

Caring for Special Needs Families 

Muir encourages other churches to recognize the need for special needs ministries. “Even if you have one family, you have a reason to do this,” she emphasized. She advised starting small, understanding the needs of families, and growing the program from there. 

Muir highlighted the importance of the church seeing and supporting special needs families as an integral part of the congregation. “We are not a separate entity,” she said. “We are a core part of the church, and it’s vital for the church to rally around these families.”